Faucet drinking fountain



June 13, 1967 c. CUSCHERA FAUCET DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed April 23, 1965 a 5 w C V TORNEVS United States Patent 3,325,101 FAUCET DRINKING FOUNTAIN Casper Cuschera, Hayward, Calif. (1047 77th Ave., Oakland, Calif. 94621) Filed Apr. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 450,322 6 Claims. (Cl. 239-25) This invention relates to drinking fountains and, more particularly, to an improved drinking fountain of the type for attachment to a water faucet.

Drinking fountains of the type to be attached to a standard water faucet are well known. Such fountains generally include a passageway for permitting water to flow through the faucet and be used therefrom just as if no fountain was provided. They generally also have a valve for selectively diverting the water from such first passageway into a second passageway leading to a drinking nozzle of the fountain for drinking purposes.

Fountains of this type presently available have several disadvantages. For example, water often issues from the drinking nozzle of many of such fountains when it is not desired that it do so. That is, the valve in such fountains opens the passageway allowing undiverted flow from the faucet but does not block the passage to the drinking nozzle. If a relatively high flow of water is introduced into the fountain, a portion of it becomes diverted into the open drinking nozzle passageway rather than flowing undiverted through the fountain as desired. Besides reducing the amount of water flowing undiverted through the fountain, the unexpected flow of water through the drinking nozzle can result in undesired wetting of a user or objects thereabout.

Most fountains now available have another major disadvantage. They do not provide a uniform amount of water through the drinking fountain. The valve can generally be manipulated, sometimes unintentionally, by the user to change the amount of water flowing through the drinking nozzle. Thus, prior fountains of this type are conducive to horseplay by youngsters. More particularly, when one youngster is drinking from the fountain, it is not unusual for another youngster to manipulate the valve to divert more water into the drinking nozzle and thereby wet the drinking youngster. Further, in many such types of fountains, a youngster can, by turning the faucet to full force and the valve of the fountain to fully divert the water therefrom through the drinking nozzle, provide a considerable, far travelling stream of water from the drinking nozzle.

It is also desirable in drinking fountains of this type to provide a valve which automatically returns to a position in which undiverted flow through the fountain is allowed after the valve is turned to a position diverting the water to the drinking nozzle. However, most types of fountains now available do not have this type of a valve but rather have a valve which requires positive manipulation by a user to return the valve to a position in which the water is not diverted to the drinking nozzle. With such type of fountain it is not uncommon for a user desiring to have water flow undiverted from the faucet for purposes other than drinking to turn on the faucet and have water undesirably flow from the drinking nozzle. It is therefore seen that it is advantageous to have a valve which would be normally urged to a position allowing water to flow undiverted through a fountain. However, in general it is difficult to control the amount of water diverted by such a valve and, therefore, a user is apt to get more or less water through the drinking nozzle than he desires. Thus, they have not generally been accepted.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drinking fountain for attachment to faucets and the like and in which undesired flow of pletely open to 3,325,101 Patented June 13, 1967 water through the drinking nozzle of the fountain is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved drinking fountain wherein only a preselected uniform amount of water can flow from the drinking nozzle.

A further object of the invention. is to provide such an improved fountain in which water will automatically flow through such fountain without being diverted to the drinking nozzle unless a valve therein is positively actuated to divert a preselected uniform amount of water to the drinking nozzle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved drinking fountain for attachment to faucets and the like fulfilling all of the above described objects and yet is simple to use, compact, and can be economically made.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a drinking fountain of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the drinking fountain of FIGURE 1 taken on a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and depicting particulars as to its construction;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view through the drinking fountain of FIGURE 1 taken on a plane-indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the drinking fountain of FIGURE 1 taken on a plane indicated by the line fr4 of FIGURE 2 and depicting the valve thereof in an actuated division.

Generally, the drinking fountain of the invention comprises a body member for attachment to a water faucet having a first passage therethrough for the normal flow of water from the faucet through the body. A second passage in the body laterally communicates with the first passage and leads to a drinking nozzle on the body member. A plunger valve extends into the body and is movable across the junction of the above described first and second passages. Such valve only has two positions in which it permits water to flow through the body member from a faucet. One of these positions is a normal, unactuated position of the valve in which the first passage is compermit water to pass through the body without being diverted into the drinking nozzle and in which the passage to the drinking nozzle is blocked to prevent unintentional flow of water into such drinking nozzle. The second position of the valve is an actuated position in which the first passage is completely closed and the second passage to the drinking nozzle is communicated to the flow of water from the faucet. Means are also provided for normally urging the valve to the unactuated one of the two operable valve positions.

From the above, it can be seen that with the present invention it is impossible to unintentionally have water flow through the drinking nozzle. That is, when the valve is in its unactuated position, the passage to the drinking nozzle is blocked and flow therein is prevented. Since the valve is normally urged into the unactuated position in which such passage is blocked, it is impossible for a user to turn on the faucet and have flow through the drinking nozzle unless such user shall positively actuate the valve to obtain such flow.

Further, only a preselected amount of water can flow from the drinking nozzle upon the actuation of the valve member. That is, the valve only diverts water into the passage to the drinking nozzle when the valve is in the fully actuated position and not when it is between the unactuated and actuated positions. In addition, a passage through which such water is diverted to the drinking nozzle has a predetermined size to only permit a preselected amount of water to be so diverted. Thus, neither more nor less Water can flow through the drinking nozzle than desired. Horseplay with the drinking fountain is thereby inhibited.

For a more particular description of the invention, reference is now made to the drawing which depicts a preferred embodiment thereof having additional advantageous features. A drinking fountain of the invention, generally indicated by the numeral 11, includes a generally ellipsoidal body member 12 having an axial first water passage 13 therethrough for the normal flow of water from a faucet through the body. Means are provided on the body member for detachably securing it to a faucet with the faucet in communication with one end of the passage 13. More particularly, a coupling nut 14 is secured to the body coaxially about one open end of the passage 13. Such nut 14 is secured to the body 12 in such a manner that it can rotate with respect thereto. That is, a peripheral flange 16 on the nut projects radially inward to adjacent a cylindrical protuberance 17 on the body coaxially about the passage 13. The protuberance 17 has a slight rim extending radially outward over the flange 16 to thereby maintain the nut on the body 12 but permit such nut to rotate. The inner periphery of the nut 14 is threaded for engaging a threaded hose bib discharge end of a conventional faucet, and a sealing washer 18 is provided Within the nut 14 to prevent leakage between the fountain and such faucet.

The body member 12 has threads coaxially about the other or outlet end of the passage 13 to permit attachment of the usual devices which are generally attached to the discharge end of a faucet. For example, as depicted, a water aerator can be provided thereon. That is, a screen retaining nut 19 is threadably received thereon and retains a conventional aerating or diffusing screen 21 transversely across the outlet opening of the passage 13.

Body member 12 has a second passage 22 therein laterally communicating with the passage 13 for the diversion of water from such passage 13 toa drinking nozzle 23. The drinking nozzle 23 comprises a tubular member integrally secured to the body member 12 about the passage 22 and defining a drinking water discharge passage 24 in communication with such passage 22. It is to be appreciated that the discharge end of the drinking nozzle 23 can be suitably provided with a guard or various types of drinking fountain discharge outlets as desired.

Body member 12 has a third cylindrical passage extending therein transversely of the junction of the aforesaid first and second passages. This passage 26 slidably receives a plunger valve generally indicated by the numeral 27. The part of the valve 27 within the passage 26 includes a cylindrical body portion 28 and a blocking flange 29 extending therefrom. A valve rod 31 is rigidly secured at one of its ends to the body portion 28 and extends axially from the passage 26 to the exterior of the body. The other end of rod 31 is rigidly secured to an actuating plunger member 32. As best depicted in FIGURE 2, such plunger member 32 has a slot 33 therein which slidably receives a guide protection 34 protruding from the body 12. The slot 33 and guide 34 coact to prevent rotation of the valve 27 within the passageway 26. Body portion 28 and blocking flange 29 of the valve are retained within the passage 26 by a collar 35 threadably received within the open end of such passage 26. As depicted, collar 36 has a central aperture through which the valve rod 31 extends to the exterior of the body.

Means are provided for normally urging the valve into an unactuated position wherein water can flow from a faucet through passage 13 and out the outlet end thereof. More particularly, a spring 37 is compressibly disposed within the passage 26 between the body portion 28 of the valve and a closed terminal end of the passage 26. As depicted in FIGURE 2, such spring normally maintains body portion 28 of the valve out of passage 13. When in such position, the blocking flange 29 of the valve blocks the entrance of the passage 22 to the drinking nozzle. Thus, water flowing from a faucet can flow unobstructedly through the passage 13. Further, because of the positioning of the blocking flange 29, such water cannot inadvertently flow into the passage 22 and out the drinking nozzle.

The valve 27 is actuated to divert water into the passage 22 and out the drinking nozzle 23 by the plunger member 32 being moved against spring 37 toward the body member 12 of the drinking fountain. When the plunger member is so moved, it moves the body portion 28 into the passage 13 to thereby block such passage and thereby prevent water from flowing therethr-ough out the outlet thereof.

Means are provided for diverting the water from the passage 13 into the passage 22 upon the valve being moved to such actuated position. More particularly, when the valve is in the actuated position, a cylindrical bore 38 extending partly into body portion 28 becomes coaxially aligned with the passage 13 with its open end communicating with that portion of the passage 13 in communication with the water faucet. A valve passage 39 within the body portion 28 extends from the bore 38 and communicates with the passage 22 when the valve is in the actuated position. It is by means of the bore 38 and the passage 39 that water flowing into the axial passageway 13 in the body member 12 is diverted into the passage 22 and thus out the drinking nozzle 23.

It can be seen by referring to FIGURES 2 and 4 that the valve 27 only has two operable positions in which flow of water is permitted through the drinking fountain. That is, it has an unactuated position shown in FIGURE 2 in which water is allowed to flow through the passage 13 and out the outlet thereof without being diverted. It also has a second position in which the block 28 completely blocks the passage 13 and the water flowing therein from a faucet is diverted by means of bore 38 and passage 39 into the passage 22 to the drinking nozzle. As can be most readily seen by referring to FIGURE 4, water can only flow into the passage 22 upon the passage 13 being completely blocked and valve passage 39 being aligned with the passage 22. That is, there is no intermediate position of the valve 27 in which only a portion of the water from the passage 13 is diverted into the passage 22 such as in conventional fountains. Thus, it is not possible for a user of the drinking fountain to vary, by means of the valve 27, the amount of water flowing out of the drinking nozzle. This eliminates the previously mentioned horseplay permitted by past drinking fountains.

As also can be seen from FIGURE 4, the valve passage 39 has a predetermined size for permitting only a preselected amount of water therethrough. More particularly, such valve passage 39 is of a smaller diameter than the passage 13 or bore 38. Thus, such passage restricts the amount of water which can flow from the passage 13 into the passage 22. This generally prevents changing of the amount of the water flowing from the drinking nozzle by changing the amount of water introduced into the passage 13 by means of the faucet to which the drinking fountain is attached. That is, except for very low flow rates from such faucet, only a generally preselected amount of water will flow into the passage 22 without regard to the amount of water flowing from the faucet. This provides a uniform issuance of water from the drinking nozzle at all times.

Means are provided for adjusting the amount of Water permitted to flow through the drinking nozzle. More particularly, a needle valve 41 extends within the drinking nozzle passage 24 and terminates contiguously with the junction of such passage 24 and the passage 22 in the body member 12. This needle valve 41 is threadedly received within the drinking nozzle 23 and, by rotation thereof, can be translationally moved with respect to such junction. It is seen that by such movement the valve 41 can vary the amount and pressure of the water permitted to flow from the passage 22 into the drinking nozzle passage 24. Thus, the amount of water issuing from the drinking nozzle can be adjusted to accommodate the drinking fountain of the invention to different faucet water pressuresand to individual preferences.

As is apparent from the above, the drinking fountain of the present invention overcomes the previously mentioned disadvantages of prior drinking fountains in a simple yet very effective manner. It can be easily made and is very compact.

What is claimed is:

1. A drinking fountain for attachment to a water faucet comprising a body member having a first passage therethrough for the normal flow of water from said faucet through said body; means for detachably securing said body member to a faucet in communication with one end of said passage; a second passage in said body laterally communicating with said first passage for the flow of water diverted from said first passage; a drinking nozzle secured to said body in communication with said second passage; a third passage in said body transversely of the junction of said first and second passages; an exteriorly actuable valve within said third passage having only two operative positions permitting the fi-ow of water through said body; a first normal unactuated position in which said first passage is open and said second passage is closed, and an actuated position completely closing said first passage and communicating said second passage to the flow of water from said faucet; means for normally urging said valve to said unactuated posit-ion; and an exteriorly adjustable needle valve for adjusting the flow of water through said drinking nozzle.

2. A drinking fountain for attachment to a water faucet comprising a body member having a first passage there through for the normal flow of water from said faucet through said body; means for detachably securing said body member to a faucet in communication with one end of said passage; a second passage in said body laterally communicating with said first passage for the flow of water diverted from said first passage; a drinking nozzle secured to said body in communication with said second passage; a third cylindrical passage in said body transversely of the junction of said first and second passages; an exteriorly actuable plunger valve slidable within said third passage and having only two operable positions permitting the flow of water through said body, a first one of said positions being a normal, unactuated position in which said first passage is open and a blocking flange on said valve closes the entrance to said second passage, and the second one of said positions being an actuated position in which a body portion of said valve completely blocks said first passage and a valve passage within said body portion diverts How of water from said first passage to said second passage; and means for normally urging said valve to said unactuated position.

3. The drinking fountain of claim 2 wherein at least a fraction of said valve passage has a predetermined size for permitting only a preselected amount of Water therethrough.

4. The drinking fountain of claim 3 wherein an exteriorly adjustable needle valve is provided within said drinking nozzle for adjusting the flow of water therethrough.

5. A drinking fountain for attachment to a water faucet comprising an ellipsoidal body member having a first axial passage therethrough for the normal flow of water from said faucet through said body; a coupling nut rotatably secured to said body coaxially about one end of said passage for detachably securing said body member to a faucet in communication with said passage; a second passage in said body laterally communicating with said first passage for the flow of water diverted from said first passage; an upwardly extending drinking nozzle secured to said body in communication with said second passage; a third cylindrical passage in said body transversely of the junction of said first and second passages; an exteriorly actuable plunger valve slidable within said third passage and having only two operable positions permitting the flow of water through said body, said valve comprising a cylindrical body portion within said passage having a valve passage therethrough and having a blocking flange extending therefrom, a valve rod secured to said body portion and axially extending from said passage to the exterior of said body member, and a plunger member secured to said valve rod and operable upon being moved toward said body member to change said valve from a first one of said positions to a second one of said positions, said first position being a normal, unactuated position in which said first passage is open and said locking flange closes the entrance to said second passage, and the second one of said positions being an actuated position in which the body portion of said valve completely blocks said first passage and the valve passage therethrough diverts flow of water from said first passage to said second passage; and a spring within said third passage between said body portion of said valve and a closed end of said passage for normally urging said valve to said unactuated position.

6. A drinking fountain for a water faucet comprising a body member having a first passage therethrough for the normal flow of water from said faucet through said body; a second passage in said body laterally communicating with said first passage for the flow of water diverted from said first passage; a drinking nozzle secured to said body in communication with said second passage; a third passage in said body transversely of the junction of said first and second passages; an exteriorly actuable valve within said third passage having only two operative positions permitting the flow of water through said body; one of said positions being a first normal unactuated position in which said first passage is open and said second passage is closed, and the other of said positions being an actuated position completely closing said first passage and communicating said second passage to the flow of water from said faucet; and means for normally urging said valve to said unactuated position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,044,648 11/ 1912 Hamrick 239-25 2,274,511 2/1942 Worthington 239-25 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. J. W. BETTER, V. WIGMAN, Assistant Examiners. 

6. A DRINKING FOUNTAIN FOR A WATER FAUCET COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PASSAGE THERETHROUGH FOR THE NORMAL FLOW OF WATER FROM SAID FAUCET THROUGH SAID BODY; A SECOND PASSAGE IN SAID BODY LATERALLY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST PASSAGE FOR THE FLOW OF WATER DIVERTED FROM SAID FIRST PASSAGE; A DRINKING NOZZLE SECURED TO SAID BODY IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SECOND PASSAGE; A THIRD PASSAGE IN SAID BODY TRANVERSELY OF THE JUNCTION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PASSAGES; AN EXTERIORLY ACTUABLE VALVE WITHIN SAID THIRD PASSAGE HAVING ONLY TWO OPERATIVE POSITIONS PERMITTING THE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH SAID BODY; ONE OF SAID POSITIONS BEING A FIRST NORMAL UNACTUATED POSITION IN WHICH SAID FIRST PASSAGE IS OPEN AND SAID SECOND PASSAGE IS CLOSED, AND THE OTHER OF SAID POSITIONS BEING AN ACTUATED POSITION COMPLETELY CLOSING SAID FIRST PASSAGE AND COMMUNICATING SAID SECOND PASSAGE TO THE FLOW OF WATER FROM SAID FAUCET; AND MEANS FOR NORMALLY URGING SAID VALVE TO SAID UNACTUATED POSITION. 